Composing stick



Feb. 18, 1930;

1.. H. GILBERT COM'POSING STICK Filed March 21, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l BYa'Galg/FNTOR WM/ak ATTORNEY Feb 18, 1 30. L. H. GILBERT 1,7 7 703 COMPOSING STICK Filed March 21, 1929 2 Sheets-Shet 2 IN V ENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 18, 1930 PATENT orrics LOUIS H. GILBERT, 0F HABTFORD, CONNECTIGUT GOMPOSING STICK 1 Application filed March 21, 1929. Serial No. 348,730.

This invention relates to a device for, and method of, positioning type casting matrices within a composingstick and for compensating the position of the composing'stick when a .line of matrices mounted within the com posing stick does not occupy the full length of the composing stick.

An object of the present invention is to provide simple means to. approximately center type casting matrices in a composing stick and then to so position the composing stick, when located for casting, that the printing slug will be cast with the type formed by the matrices located exactly centrally of the slug.

A further object of the invention is to improve the construction of a composing and castingstick and locating meanstherefor in a slug casting machine so that a line of type of 4. any length on the printing slug will be accurately centered relative to the slug, this obj ect being accomplished without the necessity of calculation and judgment of the operator.

WVith these and other objects in view, my

invention includes the features of construction and operation set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings annexed hereto and forming a part of this specification, I have shown by invention embodied in a composing and casting stick for a well known form oftypograph machine, but it will be understood that the invention can be otherwise embodied and that the drawings the type casting faces of the matrices;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the composing and casting stick located in position for the casting operation in a printing slug casting machine by means forming part of the present invention Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation taken from the left hand end of Fig. at.

In the above mentioned drawings I have shown but one embodiment of the invention which is now deemed preferable, but it is to be understood that changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In casting lines of type it is desirable particularly in casting lines of variable or fractional length that some simple and accurate means be provided for centering the type casting matrices within the length of the composing stick so that when the line of type is cast the printing faces of the type will be accurately centered along the slug. Heretofore this operation has been accomplished manually by first composing the line with matrices as indicated in Fig. 1, and then applying blank matrices or quadrats of equal thicknesses at opposite ends until the entire line is filled up to the zero graduation on the composing stick. It will be apparent from this that much depends. in order to obtain accurately centered type on the printing slug, upon the care and judgment of the compositor in arranging the matrices within the composingstick prlor to clamping them in 8 position and then casting them in the usual manner. The present device and method facilitate this centering or justifying operation to obtain the type faces disposed centrally of the slug, and eliminates all skill and judgment on the part of the compositor in accomplishing it.

In carrying out the method of the present invention the type casting matrices are roughly centered within the composing stick by placing quadrats of similar thickness on opposite ends ofthe line of matrices. With the matrices clamped therein the composing stick is then positioned in the line casting machine and isaccurately positioned for the casting operation by stops on the composing stick cooperating with members on the casting machine. One of the stops is fixed in position upon the composing stick and the other stop has its position varied by variations in length of the line of type to be cast. Preferably, and as shown, the variably positioned stop is mounted on the clamping block for the matrices so that it is always a predetermined distance from an end of the combined matrices and quadrats.

Referring more in detail to the figures of the drawings it will be seen that matrices 10 having type casting faces thereon are positioned in the composing stick 11 in the'usual manner. These matrices 1O usually, and as indicated in Fig. 1, do not completely fill the composing stick 11, but leave a space unfilled as indicated adjacent the graduation 3. This space is then filled by blank matrices or quadrats 12 having no type casting faces thereon. Blank matrices 12 of equal thickne'ssare applied to opposite ends of the composed set of type casting matrices 10 so that these type casting matrices 10 will be disposed approximately centrally of the length of the composing stick 11. Graduations 13 are applied to the composing stick 11 to indicate the particular size or thickness of blank matrix 12 to be applied to each end of the composed line of matrices to approxi-- mately fill the composing stick. As indicated these graduations are double spaced so that the graduations opposite the space left at one end to be filled will correspond to the size of the quadrats at each end. With these blank matrices applied at opposite ends of the line of composed type casting matrlces 10 it will be noted that a slight fractional amount will still remain to be taken up by the clamping block 14 between the end of the quadrat 12 and the zero graduation 13. The clamping block 14 is now forced against the matrix at one end and thus securely retaining all of the matrices in position in the usual manner. I c

This composing stick 11 is now ready to be applied to the casting machine 15 in position for casting. It will be noted however that the composed matrices 10 are not exactly slug will not be disposed exactly centrally of the slug. Means are therefore provided to adjust the axial position of the composing stick 11 when positioned for casting on the machine 15 to compensate for the small er- .ror not compensated for by the quadrats 12 at the opposite ends of the matrices 10. A stop 17 in the formof a pin or other form of integral projection positioned along one side of the composing stick 11 is adapted to contact with one end of a lever 18 pivotally mounted upon the casting machine 15 closely adjacent the slideway 19 within which the composin and casting stick 11 is mounted. Moving t is composing stick 11 along the slideway 19 the stop or pin 17 upon the composing stick 11 is caused to contact with one arm of the lever 18 and oscillates the lever.

Mounted'adjacent the pivotally mounted lever and adapted to slide in a direction parallel to the axis of the slidewa-y 19 is a slide 20. One end of this slide 20 contacts with a stop 21 outstanding from one side of the clamping block 19 on the composing stick 11. Movement of the composing stick 11 forwardly within its'slideway 19 will therefore not only force the pin 17 against one arm of the pivoted lever 18 but will also cause movement of the slide 20 by engagement of the slide 20 with the stop 21 on the clamping block 14. The slide 20 is therefore moved to a position determined by the particular position of the clamping block 14 until the composing stick 11 is held fast by cooperative action between the slide 20 and lever 18 engaging the fixed and movable stops 17 and 21 on the composing stick and its clamping block. The position, therefore, ofthe composin stick 11 will be compensated slightly for the fraction of the space within the com posing stick 11 not filled with matrices 10 and the type casting faces will be accurately centered relative to the casting mold for the slug provided in the casting machine.

I claim:

1. A justifying device for composing and casting sticks comprising a fixed stop mounted on said stick, a clamping block for the matrices within said stick, a stop mounted on. said clamping block, said stops being adapted for engagement by cooperating means when said stick is in position for casting, whereby the longitudinal position of the stick will be determined by the relative position of said stops.

2. A justifying device for composing and casting sticks comprising a fixed stop mounted intermediate the length of said stick, a

clamping block for the matrices within said stick adjacent oneend of said stick, a stop mounted on and movable with said clamping block, and means engaging said stops when said stick is in position for casting, whereby the longitudinal position of said stick will be determined by the position of said clamping block and stops.

8. A justifying device for composing and casting sticks comprising a fixed stop mounted on said stick, a clamping block for the matrices within said stick, an adjustable stop mounted on and outstanding from said block, and means engaging said stops and determining the axial position of said stick when in casting position.

4. A centering device for composing and casting sticks comprising in combination, a

composing and casting stick having spaced stops thereon, the position of one of said stops being determined by the length of the matrices within said stick, a lever pivotally mounted on a casting machine engaging one stop when said stick is positioned for casting, and a slide on the casting machine engaging the second stop and the opposite arm of the lever, whereby the axial position of said stick when positioned for the casting operation is governed by the position of said stops.

5. A centering device for composing and casting sticks comprising in combination, a composing and casting stick having spaced stops thereon, one of said stops being fixed and the other determined by the length of matrices within said stick, a lever pivotally mounted on the casting machine engaging one stop when said stick is positioned for easting, and a slide on the casting machine engaging the second stop and the opposite arm of the lever, whereby the axial position of said stick is governed by the position of said stops.

6. A centering device for composing and casting sticks comprising in combination, a composing and casting stick having a fixed stop thereon, an adjustable stop thereon, the position of which is governed by matrices in said stick, a lever pivotally mounted on a casting machine engaging one stop when said stick is positioned for casting, and a slide on the casting machine engaging and being disposed between the adjustable stop and the opposite arm of said lever, whereby the axial position of said stick is governed by the position of said stops.

7. A centering device for composing and casting sticks comprising in combination, a composing and casting stick having a fixed stop thereon, an adjustable stop thereon, a lever pivotally mounted on the casting machine engaging one of the stops when said stick is positioned for casting, and a slide on the casting machine engaging the other stop and the opposite arm of the lever, whereby the axial position of said stick is governed by the position of said stops.

8. A centering device for composing and casting sticks comprising in combination, a composing and casting stick having a fixed stop thereon, a stop carried by and movable with the clamping block of said stick, a lever carried by the casting machine used with said stick, one arm of said lever being adapted to c contact with said fixed stop on said stick, a

slide on said casting machine movable parallelly with said stick and adapted to contact with and be moved by the movable stop on said stick against the opposite arm ofsaid lever, whereby the axial position of said stick will be governed by the position of said clamp block. j

9. A centering device for composing and casting sticks comprising in combination, a

stop to a position against the opposite arm.

of the lever, whereby the axial position of said stick will be governed by the position of said clamp block.

10. A justifying device for composing and casting sticks comprising in combination, a fixed stop on said stick, an adjustable stop thereon the position of which is determined by the length of the line of matrices in said 7 stick, and means engaging said stops for determining the longitudinal position of said stick when in position for casting.

11. A justifying device for composing and casting sticks comprising in combination, a composing stick having a plurality of matrices therein, quadrats of equal thickness at opposite ends of said matrices, means to clamp said matrices and quadrats in position in said stick, a fixed stop on said stick, a second stop on said stick the position of which is determined by the length of said matrices and quadrats, and means engaging said stops for" determining the longitudinal position of said stick when in position for 

